Plastic high voltage receptacle with embedded metal flange

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a plastic high voltage receptacle having a metal flange member embedded therein and extending outwardly for solder connection to a bulkhead. The metal flange member is in the form of a T or L, the portion thereof embedded in the plastic being substantially thicker than the portion normal to the embedded portion which extends externally of the plastic member. In the case of the L-shaped metal flange, the embedded portion is ridged to increase the distance around the embedded portion of the flange when travelling from one side of the flange to the other to compensate for the lost distance relative to the T-shaped flange member.

United States Patent 1191 Glover et a1.

[ PLASTIC HIGH VOLTAGE RECEPTACLE WITH EMBEDDED METAL FLANGE [75] Inventors: Douglas Wade Glover, Harrisburg; Robert Eden Fry, Mechanicsburg,

both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: July 25, 1973 2] Appl. No.: 382,611

451 July 1, 1975 5/1972 Keto et a1. 339/111 10/1972 Cooper, Jr. 339/218 M [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a plastic high voltage receptacle having a metal flange member embedded therein and extending outwardly for solder connection to a bulkhead. The metal flange member is in the form of a T or L, the portion thereof embedded in the plastic being substantially thicker than the portion normal to the embedded portion which extends externally of the plastic member. In the case of the L-shaped metal flange, the embedded portion is ridged to increase the distance around the embedded portion of the flange when travelling from one side of the flange to the other to compensate for the lost distance relative to the T-shaped flange member.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PLASTIC HIGH VOLTAGE RECEPTACLE WITH EMBEDDED METAL FLANGE This invention relates to a high voltage connector which is capable of providing an hermetic seal with a bulkhead and, more specifically, to a high voltage plastic receptacle of the above described type having a metal folder flange embedded therein and extending externally thereof.

High voltage receptacles which were to be soldered into a bulkhead and capable of providing an hermetic seal between the two sides of the bulkhead to prevent leakage of oil, gas or the like have been known to the prior art. However, such receptacles have normally been formed from a ceramic material with a metal flange brazed thereon. Ceramics have the detrimental property of being difficult to control dimensionally, of being brittle and chipping and/or cracking easily and have therefore been difficult to use as a high voltage connector. The cost of providing adequate ceramic receptacles with the desired properties above enumerated has therefore been relatively high.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a high voltage receptacle which is relatively inexpensive and which can be soldered to a bulkhead and provide an hermetic seal therewith to prevent escape of oils, gases or the like. The above is accomplished by providing a plastic high voltage receptacle having a metal flange member embedded therein and extending outwardly for solder connection to a bulkhead. The metal flange member is in the form ofa T or L, the portion thereof embedded in the plastic being substantially thicker than the portion normal to the embedded portion which extends externally of the plastic member. In the case of the L-shaped metal flange, the embedded portion is ridged to increase the distance around the embedded portion of the flange when travelling from one side of the flange to the other to compensate for the lost distance relative to the T-shaped flange member. The embedded portion of the seal has a relatively long surface so that fluids or gases are provided with minimum possibility of locating a path across the bulkhead around the embedded portion of the flange.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a high voltage receptacle which is relatively inexpensive and capable of providing an hermetic seal with a bulkhead.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plastic high voltage receptacle having an externally extending metal flange embedded therein which is capable of providing an hermetic seal when soldered to a bulkhead.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a high voltage plastic receptacle having an embedded metal flange wherein the plastic is in compression around the metal flange.

The above objects and still further objects of the invention will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the following preferred embodiments thereof, which are provided by way of example and not by way of limitation, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a high voltage connector and a bulkhead into which the connector is to be mounted;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view as in FIG. 2 with the receptacle mounted into the bulkhead and a plug secured therein; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. I, there is shown a bulkhead I and a receptacle 3 to be soldered therein. Referring now also to FIG. 2, the receptacle 3 includes a plastic portion 5 which is formed from a rigid, highly electrically insulating material, many of which are well known in the art. The plastic portion 5 defines an aperture 7 and has external threads 9 surrounding the aperture. An electrically conducting pin 11 is mounted in the plastic portion 5 and extends into the aperture 7 as well as externally of the receptacle for making electrical connection. A T-shaped metal flange I3 has the head 15 of the T embedded within the plastic portion 5. The leg 17 of the T extends outwardly externally of the plastic for soldering. The leg portion 17 is substantially thinner than the head portion 15 to minimize the flow of heat to the head portion 15 during soldering. This is necessary to prevent deterioration of the plastic and/or any primer materials which may be positioned between the metal and plastic.

Since the receptacle is formed by placing the pin 11 and flange 13 into a mold and then injection molding or compression molding the plastic theraround, the plastic will be in compression around the flange 13 due to shrinkage of the plastic during curing both within and externally of the mold. This provides the desirable sealing between plastic and metal, the larger the metal distance, the better being the seal.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a receptacle in accordance with the present invention soldered to the bulkhead l by means of solder 19. It can be seen that with proper soldering, leakage can only take place around the flange I3, this being prevented by the receptacle of the present invention. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a mating plug which can be any one of many well known high voltage plugs. The plug includes a threaded cap 21 which threads onto the threads 9 and forces a boot 23 having an integral O-ring portion 25 against the shoulder 27 of the receptacle to provide sealing. The wire 29 is connected to a connector (not shown) within the boot 23 for making contact with the pin 11.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention. Here, like numbers refer to the same elements as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the metal flange member 31 is L-shaped and includes an outwardly extending leg portion 33 and an embedded head portion 35 having plural ridges 37 formed thereon. The ridges 37 make up for the shorter dimension of the head portion 35 by providing the additional surface distance around the flange to provide the desired hermetic seal.

Though the invention has been described with respect to specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A high voltage electrical receptacle which comprises in combination,

a. a body of plastic electrically insulating material having a hollow interior region closed at one end 4 said flange member. said material of leg being of small crosssectional area relative to said head to minimize heat transfer into said body. 2. A high voltage electrical receptacle according to claim I wherein the head is provided with a plurality of axially spaced circumferential ridges to increase the axially extending surface of the head. 

1. A high voltage electrical receptacle which comprises in combination, a. a body of plastic electrically insulating material having a hollow interior region closed at one end by an integral wall and an electrical contact extending through said plastic material of said wall into said hollow region at one end of said cavity, and b. a metal flange member electrically isolated from said contact and having a head and a leg, said head being embedded in said plastic material and said leg extending externally of said plastic material, said plastic material being in compression about said flange member, said material of leg being of small crosssectional area relative to said head to minimize heat transfer into said body.
 2. A high voltage electrical receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the head is provided with a plurality of axially spaced circumferential ridges to increase the axially extending surface of the head. 